It is now possible to grow vegetables in Saudi Arabia at a lower cost than imports

Published 2024년 9월 2일

Tridge summary

The Saudi government is focusing on food security as part of its Vision 2030 strategy, aiming to diversify the economy and reduce reliance on oil. With increased shipping costs and potential disruptions, growing vegetables locally is more cost-effective. Nehal Agricultural is responding by building four hectares of high-performance hydroponic greenhouses in Al-Kharj, Riyadh, to cultivate tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and lettuce. The facility will feature advanced, environmentally controlled greenhouses, packaging and cold storage facilities, and an R&D unit. This initiative is expected to provide sufficient yields to cover costs, conserve water, and reduce environmental impact.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

Source: Fresh Plaza | Photography: Pixnio The Saudi government's Vision 2030 strategic framework, which aims to diversify the country's economy and reduce its dependence on oil, identifies food security as one of its key areas of focus. Recent developments in the Middle East region, such as the blockade of shipping routes and rising transport costs, provide an additional incentive to produce locally and do so now, despite one of the harshest climates in the world. This is the context presented by Dr. Mammad Zohaib Ajum, an agronomist at Nehal Agricultural. "At current prices, it is now possible to grow vegetables in Saudi Arabia at a lower cost than imports, due to the drastic increase in shipping costs," adds Anjum. "We can even consider exporting this production to neighbouring countries and even Europe at certain times of the year, thanks to the sufficient yields offered by hydroponic greenhouses." Nehal Agricultural Anjum continues: “In this pressing context, building ...

Source: OPIA